Findabilitytag:findability.org,2009-11-19://22014-08-18T20:55:46ZMovable Type 4.32-en42.266805-83.722978Gone Fishin'tag:findability.org,2014://2.6752014-08-18T18:55:42Z2014-08-18T20:55:46ZAfter years of loyal service, findability.org has retired. This is the last post. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement over the past nine years. Peter Morville is now blogging over at intertwingled.org. See you there!...Peter Morville
<p>After years of loyal service, <a href="http://findability.org">findability.org</a> has retired. This is the last post. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement over the past nine years. Peter Morville is now blogging over at <a href="http://intertwingled.org">intertwingled.org</a>. See you there!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/good_day/83531607/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/83531607_6a25575b24.jpg" width="500" height="305" border="0" alt="Sanibel Island" /></a></p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/vQHJoAOOows" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000675.phpFinding Intertwingledtag:findability.org,2014://2.6732014-08-14T14:22:42Z2014-08-14T14:23:38ZIntertwingled is now available in print and digital formats on Amazon. Ironically, it's hard to find via Amazon's search. In the US, the ebook is hidden. In the UK, it's the paperback that's unfindable. But I'm not upset. Amazon is...Peter Morville
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692225587">Intertwingled</a> is now available in print and digital formats on Amazon. Ironically, it's hard to find via Amazon's search. In the US, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MOR4B0W">ebook</a> is hidden. In the UK, it's the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intertwingled-Information-Everything-Peter-Morville/dp/0692225587/">paperback</a> that's unfindable. But I'm not upset. Amazon is in the process of linking the print and Kindle versions. This happens with every book. Most authors are patient enough to wait. Anyway, I'm still amazed by the fact that by pressing a couple of buttons, I was able to publish a book in multiple formats and countries, virtually overnight.</p>
<p><img src="http://findability.org/images/intertwingled_covers.jpg" width="500" height="333" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Intertwingled" /></a></p>
<p>If you think you might <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692225587">buy the book</a> but still need a gentle nudge, I'm hoping this sample of advance praise might do the trick.</p>
<blockquote><i>Intertwingled</i> is a meditation on the connectedness of everything. From language and ontology to culture and strategy, Peter takes us on a journey that reveals how a simple change in what we take for granted can send ripples that reach far beyond our awareness.<br />
<b>&ndash; Irene Au, Operating Partner, Khosla Ventures</b></blockquote>
<blockquote>In the information age, we are all information architects, says Morville in this fresh and fascinating take on the discipline he played a huge part in creating. Drawing on nature, culture, history, and science, plus decades of deep personal experience helping major clients, Morville finds new and profound meaning in the business of helping users to find their way.<br />
<b>&ndash; Jeffrey Zeldman, author, Designing with Web Standards</b></blockquote>
<blockquote>MIND BLOWN OPEN, rearranged, and reshaped. This startling book took me on a twisty adventure in how to think, see, design, and experience the world differently. It's like stepping through a door to a shifted universe that's richer, deeper, and more connected. And, Peter reveals practical ideas and insights about how to build understanding and cope with complexity. Say goodbye to your current self when you start this book, because you won't be the same person by the end of the journey.<br />
<b>&ndash; Kathy Sierra, author, Badass: Making Users Awesome</b></blockquote>
<p>Thanks for your interest and support. I hope you enjoy being <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692225587">Intertwingled</a>.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/y8Um6dpGAfM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000673.phpIntertwingled: The Book Tourtag:findability.org,2014://2.6702014-05-23T14:40:05Z2014-05-29T15:35:03ZI'm writing the final chapter of Intertwingled (available September) and starting to plan talks at conferences. Here's a draft description. The Architecture of Understanding If we hope to move forward, the UX community must go deep. We've been seduced by...Peter Morville
<p>I'm writing the final chapter of <a href="http://findability.org/archives/000666.php">Intertwingled</a> (<i>available September</i>) and starting to plan talks at conferences. Here's a draft description.</p>
<blockquote><b>The Architecture of Understanding</b></blockquote>
<blockquote>If we hope to move forward, the UX community must go deep. We've been seduced by surface at the expense of understanding. We think we're designing software, websites, and experiences. But we're not. We are agents of change.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Until we accept this mission, we will forever repeat our mistakes. How can we work together when we're divided by silos? How will we innovate while blinded by cultural illiteracy? The things we make are reflections of the language we use and the ways we organize ourselves. It's time to stop twittering about unicorns and start shaping strategy. It's time to be <i>architects of understanding</i>.</blockquote>
<blockquote>In this spirited tour of information architecture, organizational strategy, and systems thinking, Peter Morville draws from his new book, <i>Intertwingled</i>, to reveal how everything is connected from code to culture. It's a trip into the wilderness of cognition and complexity that delivers a simple message: the UX community can change the world, but only if we have the courage to go deep.</blockquote>
<p>So, what do you think? And where should I give this talk? Thanks!</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/nCgfR3AAppo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000670.phpInformation Architecture Summittag:findability.org,2014://2.6692014-04-01T14:18:24Z2014-05-27T12:01:36ZI will remember IA Summit 2014 as my favorite conference ever. The content and conversations were brilliant. The activities (first-timer dinner, polar bear run, book signing, yoga) were a ton of fun. The setting in sunny San Diego was lovely....Peter Morville
<p>I will remember <a href="http://2014.iasummit.org">IA Summit 2014</a> as my favorite conference ever. The content and conversations were brilliant. The activities (<i>first-timer dinner, polar bear run, book signing, yoga</i>) were a ton of fun. The setting in sunny San Diego was lovely. And I had the honor of delivering the <a href="https://medium.com/information-architecture/7ddf2ad4bc3">closing plenary</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://findability.org/images/iheartia.png" width="500" height="382" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Grand Canyon" /></a></p>
<p>If you missed it, you can check out the <a href="https://medium.com/p/6a4e6e0c22c5">slides</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ias14&src=hash">tweets</a>, and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ias14&s=int">photos</a>. But the only way to understand what makes this community special is to be part of it. So, reach out to <a href="https://twitter.com/Abby_the_IA">Abby</a> to help build the IA Institute. And, reach out to next year's conference chairs (<a href="https://twitter.com/verbistheword">Veronica</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jduverneay">Jessica</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAtherton">Mike</a>) and volunteer to help make next year in Minneapolis awesome (<i>April 22-26</i>). Thanks for the wonderful memories. Now let's get back to work. I'll see you at the summit.</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p><a href="http://waterhill.org">Water Hill Music Fest</a> is an awesome community-driven event in Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>I met <a href="http://dmurch74.wordpress.com">Devaki</a> at the IA Summit. She's an expert at connecting the dots.</p>
<p>Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/uxradio">Lara Federoff</a> for volunteering to organize the next <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldIADay">World IA Day</a>.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/eipVlzJv3AE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000669.phpThe Inner Canyontag:findability.org,2014://2.6682014-01-03T19:44:44Z2014-05-27T12:01:52ZI have two goals for 2014. First, I hope to write and publish Intertwingled. If all goes well, both book and e-book should be on shelves by end of summer. For now, I slog through snow and solitude, with miles...Peter Morville
<p>I have two goals for 2014. First, I hope to write and publish <a href="http://findability.org/archives/000666.php">Intertwingled</a>. If all goes well, both book and e-book should be on shelves by end of summer. For now, I slog through snow and solitude, with miles to go before I sleep.</p>
<p><img src="http://findability.org/images/grandcanyon.jpg" width="500" height="321" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Grand Canyon" /></a></p>
<p>Second, I plan to hike the Grand Canyon <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/mixed-emotions-rim-to-rim-in-a-single-day/563416">rim to rim</a> twice: South to North, a day of rest, then back. It will be hard, but I look forward to it, immensely.</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p><a href="http://worldiaday.org">World IA Day 2014</a> will take place in 23 cities, 14 countries, 6 continents.</p>
<p>Guess what else I look forward to immensely? <a href="http://2014.iasummit.org/peter-morville-interview/">IA Summit</a> in San Diego.</p>
<p> You know who's really crazy? Ultrarunners who race <a href="http://www.irunfar.com/2013/05/rob-krars-grand-canyon-r2r2r-fkt-report.html">rim to rim to rim</a>.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/D1I6sDxQyZw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000668.phpLibrary 2020: The Future(s) of Librariestag:findability.org,2013://2.6672013-06-26T15:11:11Z2013-09-08T12:00:28ZIf you enjoyed reading Inspiration Architecture you should check out the full set of 24 colorful perspectives on the future of libraries in Library 2020. Here are a few of my favorite quotes: The library in 2020 will be just...Peter Morville
<p>If you enjoyed reading <a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000664.php">Inspiration Architecture</a> you should check out the full set of 24 colorful perspectives on the future of libraries in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0810887142">Library 2020</a>.</p>
<p>Here are a few of my favorite quotes:</p>
<blockquote>The library in 2020 will be just like the library today, except without all the books, music, and movies. -- <a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/blogs/annoyedlibrarian/">The Annoyed Librarian</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>We have an appalling lack of user experience integration among the subscribed resources and web-based services we provide. -- <a href="http://onebiglibrary.net/bio">Daniel Chudnov</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>I predict that individuals will have a new hunger to come together for face-to-face interactions, and libraries are one of the last noncommercial settings where this can happen. -- <a href="http://www.fontichiaro.com/">Kristin Fontichiaro</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>[In 2020] through hard experience, the public has become appropriately skeptical of having too much confidence in the stewardship commitments of commercial actors. -- <a href="http://www.cni.org/about-cni/staff/clifford-a-lynch/">Clifford A. Lynch</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>Something that often is difficult for library and information professionals to comprehend is that the majority of the population does not use libraries to get information. -- <a href="https://twitter.com/LynnConnaway">Lynn Silipigni Connaway</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>The real value that many users find in the public library beyond access to information is the assistance from trained professionals who can help guide people through the changing landscape of information access in the digital world. -- <a href="http://ischool.uw.edu/people/faculty/mikecran">Michael Crandall</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>I say we fight for and maintain our very long-term and hard-won connection to books and what they represent. -- <a href="http://www.washington.edu/news/2012/08/02/documents-that-changed-the-world-a-podcast-series-from-joe-janes/">Joseph Janes</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>We in libraries want geeks with the ethics and values for open information and freedom of access to be the ones in control of the world's data - in other words, us. -- <a href="http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/">Sarah Houghton</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>The U.S. public domain is still stuck at 1922, and each new purchase with a major vendor locks each individual purchaser deeper into that vendor's closed ecosystem. There is no cultural willpower to fight this. -- <a href="http://onebiglibrary.net/bio">Daniel Chudnov</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>More open, transparent government at all levels is a requirement in twenty-first century society. The library will play an important role in supporting this transparency by providing free and open access to government information from the local to federal level. -- <a href="http://www.imls.gov/about/staffdetail.aspx?StaffId=18">Susan Hildreth</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>I might go so far as to say (and I do not reference this lightly) that libraries are "of the people, by the people, for the people," and as such, I, for one, hope that they "shall not perish from the earth." (Lincoln) -- <a href="https://twitter.com/xocg">Courtney Greene</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>We must be willing to lose some of the things we loved most about the libraries we remember fondly if we're going to build libraries that will be truly memorable and valuable to the people we serve in the years ahead. -- <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/james-rosenzweig/5/a98/670">James Rosenzweig</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>The library in 2020 will offer a culture of generosity. -- <a href="https://twitter.com/josiebparker">Josie Barnes Parker</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>Librarianship is the most important profession. -- <a href="http://ischool.uw.edu/people/faculty/jwj">Joseph Janes</a></blockquote>
<p>These quotes offer but a glimpse into this wonderfully diverse collection. So, go ahead, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0810887142">buy the book</a>, or even better, borrow it from your local library.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/vz_Zn0k5LFs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000667.phpIntertwingled: The Booktag:findability.org,2013://2.6662013-06-07T16:23:52Z2014-08-18T19:44:43ZUpdate 08/04/14: Here's a much better description of the book. Also, if you want an email when it becomes available in a few weeks, let me know. Update 08/16/14: Intertwingled is now available via Amazon. Just had my mind blown...Peter Morville
<p><i>Update 08/04/14:</i> Here's a <a href="https://twitter.com/seriouspony/status/496409182518530048">much better description</a> of the book. Also, if you want an email when it becomes available in a few weeks, <a href="mailto:morville@semanticstudios.com">let me know</a>.</p>
<p><i>Update 08/16/14: </i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692225587">Intertwingled</a> is now available via Amazon.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just had my mind blown open, with bits/pieces of it rearranged &amp; reshaped by a new book <a href="https://twitter.com/morville">@morville</a> wrote, comes out next month I think OMFG.</p>&mdash; Seriouspony (@seriouspony) <a href="https://twitter.com/seriouspony/statuses/496409182518530048">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Whether it's a marathon, a mountain, or a massive IA challenge, I'm always at my best while on a quest. So, I've decided to write a book. Again.</p>
<p>This book -- <i>Intertwingled</i> -- is about designing information systems, and understanding the nature of information in systems. It's about strange loops and invisible links at the crossroads of information architecture and systems thinking. It's about the complex relationship between strategy and structure.</p>
<p>In my work, conversations about a new feature or better interface offer rich lessons in connectedness. How will it work on mobile? Will this fly in our CMS? What about SEO? Who is responsible? How do we measure success?</p>
<p>When Ted Nelson wrote in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Lib_/_Dream_Machines">1974</a> that "everything is deeply intertwingled" he was inspired by hypertext and the non-sequential structure of ideas. I hope to build from there by following the links all the way from code to culture.</p>
<p><img src="http://findability.org/images/intertwingled.png" width="500" height="197" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Everything is Deeply Intertwingled" /></a></p>
<p>Writing about the intertwingling of <a href="http://curiouslee.typepad.com/photos/best_of_curiouslee/brand_keynote_400.html">pace layers</a> will not be easy, and to make things even harder, I've decided to self-publish this book. I have nothing but good things to say about O'Reilly Media. I simply want to try something new.</p>
<p>The book will be published in print and digital formats in 2014. I make this public commitment trusting that you will hold my feet to the fire. Writing is a lonely quest, but I know I won't be alone. On the journey, I will seek out my collaborators. Eventually, hopefully, happily, I will find my readers.</p>
<p>Until then, I must rely upon my passion and perseverance, and upon your engagement and encouragement. So, if you have a question or a suggestion or a kind word, now would be a great time to <a href="https://twitter.com/morville">let me know</a>. Thanks!</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/FlTJfmLhXM0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000666.phpLibraries, Learning, Literacytag:findability.org,2013://2.6652013-01-16T18:38:28Z2013-06-07T17:13:09ZMy wife (a librarian) loves to tell me that I'm not a real librarian. And she's right. While I do have the degree, I've never served as a librarian. But, I do care a whole awful lot about the future...Peter Morville
<p>My wife (a librarian) loves to tell me that I'm not a real librarian. And she's right. While I do have the degree, I've never served as a librarian. But, I do care a whole awful lot about the future of libraries and their impact upon our schools and society, which is why I wrote the following two articles.</p>
<p><a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000662.php">Architects of Learning</a></p>
<blockquote>It's a tough time to be a teacher. The bureaucracy is stifling. The politics are worse. And, the irresistible force of disruptive innovation has come to school. Everywhere you look, entrepreneurs sell silver bullets that will save our kids from the assembly line. Some teachers quit. That's understandable but sad, because while the system must change and technology will prove transformative, when the dust settles, teachers will continue to serve ...</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000664.php">Inspiration Architecture</a></p>
<blockquote>The library in 2020 is the last bastion of truth. Sure, you can search yottabytes of free data by simply batting an eyelash. But it's dangerous to believe what you see through the iGlass lens. As you learned the hard way back in the Facebook era, if you're not paying for it, you are the product. That research study about the safety and efficacy of Lipitor Lollipops™ was sponsored by ...</blockquote>
<p>I'm not sure what's next. These articles may be tiny seeds for a big book, or not. For now, I'm happy to have these ideas out there, and I look forward to talking about them at some upcoming conferences. See you on the road!</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p>This year's <a href="http://worldiaday.org">World IA Day</a> is in 15 cities, including <a href="http://2013.worldiaday.org/locations/ann-arbor-mi-usa">Ann Arbor</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://prezi.com/aafmvya6bk7t/understanding-information-architecture/">Understanding IA</a> has over 100,000 views. Thanks for spreading the word!</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/FGt3oqTSaAQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000665.phpThe Gift of Writing Backtag:findability.org,2012://2.6632012-12-21T14:50:50Z2013-06-07T17:12:52ZIn myriad ways, writing is a gift. It's a gift to have the education and talent necessary to write well. It's a gift that's invaluable in social, scholarly, and professional pursuits. And, writing creates a gift you can give. When...Peter Morville
<p>In myriad ways, writing is a gift. It's a gift to have the education and talent necessary to write well. It's a gift that's invaluable in social, scholarly, and professional pursuits. And, writing creates a gift you can give. When you write an article, a book, or simply a tweet, you send a bit of yourself out into the world, where it might inform or inspire someone you've never met.</p>
<p>Mostly, you never know who is touched by your words. But once in a while, someone writes back. For example, I wrote <a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000662.php">Architects of Learning</a> and soon after received this response:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Dear Peter,</p>
<p>I received your article the very hour I was pondering if/how to incorporate "after-school programming" into my daughter's Montessori school using the curriculum provided by <a href="http://www.codecademy.com/">codecademy.com</a>. The point that propelled me is "We can't wait to be invited. We must crash the party." I'm meeting with my daughter's school today and expect the program will be approved. If it isn't, I'll keep trying. Thank you for the thought-provoking and inspirational article.</p>
<p>Sincerely, Jennifer Michaels</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Later that same day, I received this follow-up:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Good news! I got approval to offer the program at the Montessori school. I'll probably start with programs like <a href="http://scratch.mit.edu">Scratch</a> and <a href="http://www.alice.org">Alice</a> for the younger kids (I didn't even know about them until the kind people at Codecademy suggested them as options).</p>
<p>I also spend time with kids in foster care group homes and plan to introduce programming at a basic, fun level. Maybe one or more kids will feel inspired and confident enough to pursue technology as an area of study or profession. Foster kids need all the inspiration and chances they can get.</p>
<p>Sincerely, Jennifer Michaels</p>
</blockquote>
<p>These messages made my day. So, thank you Jennifer, for teaching, and for telling me that my words made a difference. And, thanks to everyone who pays it forward by giving the gift of writing back. As I writer, I can tell you with absolute conviction that your words make a difference too!</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p>A glimpse of what it's like to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVvKnq5XT-g">be a teacher</a>. Claudia, our 11 year old daughter, can quote this word for word, and she gets the voices just right.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who's working to make the second annual <a href="http://worldiaday.org">World IA Day</a> a big success. I look forward to seeing some of you in <a href="http://2013.worldiaday.org/locations/ann-arbor-mi-usa">Ann Arbor</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>Dear Peter,</p>
<p>I received your article titled, Architects of Learning the very hour I was pondering if/how to incorporate "after-school programming" into my daughter's Montessori school using the curriculum provided by codeacademy.com. The point that propelled me is, "we can't wait to be invited in. We must crash the party." I'm meeting with my daughter's school today and expect the program will be approved. If it isn't, I'll keep trying. Thank you for the thought provoking and inspirational article.</p>
<p>Sincerely, Jennifer Michaels</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/EQn1lz8jGV8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000663.phpThe Last Ironmantag:findability.org,2012://2.6602012-09-11T14:57:03Z2013-06-07T17:13:57ZOn Saturday, I successfully completed my first (and last) Ironman 70.3. It was an amazing experience: a well-organized event, perfect weather, and my wonderful family to cheer me over the finish. But I'll never do it again. It's not that...Peter Morville
<p>On Saturday, I successfully completed my first (and last) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironman_70.3">Ironman 70.3</a>. It was an amazing experience: a well-organized <a href="http://www.3disciplines.com/events/september/tawas-triathlon-festival">event</a>, perfect weather, and my wonderful family to cheer me over the finish. But I'll never do it again.</p>
<p><img src="http://findability.org/images/ironman.jpg" width="500" height="330" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Ironman" /></a></p>
<p>It's not that the triathlon itself was difficult. In fact, after all the pre-race worry, it was fun to swim, bike, and run. I simply don't want to put that much time and energy into training. So, after a decade of upping from 5k to 10 mile, half-marathon, <a href="http://findability.org/archives/000240.php">marathon</a>, olympic triathlon, and half-ironman, I'm done. I've climbed my highest mountain. I'm ready to downshift. To pass the time, I'll do something easy. For instance, I may write another book...</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p>Early in my training, after a nasty bike injury, I nearly quit. I found the inspiration to go on from several sources including this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Run-Unlikely-Ultramarathon-Greatness/dp/0547569653">book</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZlXWp6vFdE">video</a>.</p>
<p>I've joined the <a href="http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/international-advisory-council">advisory council</a> of SJSU SLIS and am looking forward to their upcoming (free) virtual conference, <a href="http://www.library20.com/page/2-012-conference">Library 2.012</a>, in early October.</p>
<p>Tomorrow, I'm bound for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=glacier+national+park">Glacier National Park</a> to witness some glaciers <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090302-glaciers-melting.html">before they disappear</a>. And yes, I may even climb some mountains.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/yojIgnycdi8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000660.phpInterviewed by LIS Students in Greecetag:findability.org,2012://2.6592012-06-28T12:14:54Z2013-06-07T17:13:35ZZoi and Chrysanthi, students at the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, interviewed me about becoming an information architect. 1. How did the IA concept originate? There are several different opinions expressed on this matter, and we would like a clarification....Peter Morville
<p><i>Zoi and Chrysanthi, students at the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, interviewed me about becoming an information architect.</i></p>
<p><i>1. How did the IA concept originate? There are several different opinions expressed on this matter, and we would like a clarification. Do you agree that IA first started at Argus Associates?</i></p>
<p>Who invented the airplane? When was America discovered? Where did IA begin? None of these questions can be answered faithfully with a fact. In 2004, I wrote <a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/historia.pdf">A Brief History of Information Architecture</a> to capture my version of the story. For different perspectives, you might also read:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/03-resmini/">A Brief History of Information Architecture</a> by Resmini and Rosati</li>
<li><a href="http://5ky1a8.com/rdr-euroIA2011.pdf">The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Information Architecture</a> by Royce</li>
</ul>
<p>Looking back, I recognize we weren't entirely fair to Richard Saul Wurman, and today I'm particularly inspired by holistic framings of our field, as evidenced in Jorge Arango's <a href="http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue1/04-arango/">Architectures</a>, that show "Wurman IA" and "Polar Bear IA" to be one and the same. In short, I'm less interested in defining where IA began than I am in exploring where it's going.</p>
<p><i>2. Could you imagine your future progress as a professional when you studied LIS in Michigan or even when you wrote your IA book?</i></p>
<p>No. I love to tell our daughters (who are both in middle school) that I have a job that didn't exist when I was in college. But my inability to predict my own future goes much further than that. When I studied LIS at <a href="http://www.si.umich.edu/">Michigan</a>, I never planned to become an entrepreneur. When I began at <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/19961219213735/http://argus-inc.com/">Argus</a>, I never imagined we would grow our little startup into a 40-person business. And when Lou and I wrote the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-World-Wide-Web/dp/0596527349/">polar bear book</a>, I never dreamed it would play a pivotal role in the careers of so many people all around the world.</p>
<p>Now, I'm an independent information architecture consultant. I've been flying solo for over a decade. I didn't predict that either. So, I guess that means I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing during the next 10 years.</p>
<p><i>3. You and Louis Rosenfeld are known as pioneers in this particular professional practice/field. Was it easy to find people that shared your ideas and vision, or was it a process that demanded a great deal of time to "convince" others about the power and the dynamics of IA?</i></p>
<p>It wasn't hard to find good employees. In the mid-to-late 1990s, there were lots of smart, young LIS and HCI students who shared our ideas and vision. It was, on the other hand, sometimes hard to find good clients. We learned the hard way not to waste much time trying to convince prospective clients of the value of information architecture. Folks need to feel the pain that's caused by bad IA before they're ready to invest in good IA. Of course, today, that pain has spread into every nook and cranny of business, so it's much easier to find good clients.</p>
<p><i>4. For those who are not familiar with the field, how would you describe an IA's professional object?</i></p>
<p>The easy answer is that information is the IA's professional object. In the polar bear book, we define IA as "the structural design of shared information environments." Today, that definition is still valid and useful, but I find myself increasingly drawn to the framing of IA as "the architecture of understanding" which positions understanding as our professional object.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://prezi.com/aafmvya6bk7t/understanding-information-architecture/">Understanding IA</a>, we explain that as information architects, "We help our users to understand where they are, what they've found, what to expect, and what's around. We help our clients to understand what's possible."</p>
<p><i>5. What do you like and dislike most about your job?</i></p>
<p>I love the diversity that consulting affords. Over the years, I've worked with amazing people on web, intranet, mobile, and cross-channel challenges at the Library of Congress, Macys.com, the National Cancer Institute, Cisco, Harvard, the Kresge Foundation, Polar Bears International, etc.</p>
<p>On the other hand, while I love the freedom of being a solopreneur, it can be lonely and isolating. Which is why I enjoy collaborating with partners such as <a href="http://qltd.com/">Q LTD</a> and <a href="http://understandinggroup.com/">TUG</a>. It's great to have colleagues as well as clients.</p>
<p><i>6. What is the source of your inspiration when you write a book?</i></p>
<p>My books are born of frustration. For instance, I wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Findability-What-Changes-Become/dp/0596007655/">Ambient Findability</a> because I was annoyed by over-use of the word usability. But I'm also driven by empathy for the user and a conviction that by writing books about information architecture, findability, and search, we're helping designers and developers to understand how to make better products and services.</p>
<p><i>7. Do you believe there are solid foundations to consider that make the transition from librarian to becoming an IA possible? And if not, could you suggest some actions that would empower such a future development?</i></p>
<p>There is no single path to become an information architect. It helps to have "empathy for the user" and a disposition towards "systems thinking."</p>
<p><i>8. Would you suggest a shift in LIS curricula in order for students to achieve a better understanding of IA? And if so, could you name some suggestions as courses to be taught?</i></p>
<p>Yes. The ideal program would piece together a multi-disciplinary curriculum that draws from architecture, anthropology, communication, design, journalism, marketing, LIS, HCI, and the list goes on.</p>
<p><i>9. Do you think IA should be taught in undergraduate or postgraduate level? For example, in our country (Greece), LIS studies are at the undergraduate level and there are few possibilities to receive a Master in LIS.</i></p>
<p>I'd like to see it taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels. And, the basics of information architecture should be taught to elementary school children as part of a broader course in information literacy.</p>
<p><i>10. Are there methods/actions that can help spread the ideas and concepts of IA among peers, academics and the market?</i></p>
<p>Most products, services, sites, and systems are designed without the direct involvement of an information architect. So, we have a great opportunity and responsibility to educate our clients and colleagues about the concepts, principles, and best practices of information architecture. We need to keep writing articles and books and speaking at companies and conferences.</p>
<p><i>11. In our country there are very few professionals (computer scientists, librarians, web designers, etc.) that are even aware of the term "Information Architecture." Would you consider this alarming, considering the wide-spread dissemination of ideas through the Web? Do you experience a similar situation in your country?</i></p>
<p>I find that neither surprising nor alarming. And it's largely the same in the U.S. As Herbert Simon explained, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention. Consequently, it's incredibly hard to reach people with any message. And IA isn't an easy message to digest. Most people don't want to think about complex systems. It makes their heads hurt. Which is precisely why I'm optimistic I'll get to evangelize IA for the rest of my life.</p>
<p><i>12. In Greece, the LIS community, both academic and professional, is not familiar with the concept of IA. What would be, in your opinion, an efficient way to inform them of IA?</i></p>
<p>I've written lots of articles about IA, most of which are available for free via the Web. That's the most efficient way I know to make the information accessible. But there's no efficient way to make them want to learn.</p>
<p><i>13. Are there any obstacles/problems on getting co-workers/peers and clients to appreciate the value of IA?</i></p>
<p>I'm very lucky. The folks with whom I work generally appreciate the value of information architecture. So, I'm the wrong person to ask.</p>
<p><i>14. In your opinion, which are the top 3 skills that an IA must absolutely have in order to succeed?</i></p>
<p>An IA must be able to learn, synthesize, and communicate.</p>
<p><i>15. How much has the IA field developed since publication of the polar bear book? Do you think that the IA field needs more publications to promote IA?</i></p>
<p>Half of what's in the polar bear book is as relevant today as it was in 1998 and 2002 and 2006, but the other half is totally out of date. It's your job as an information architect to figure out which is which. I'm not sure we need more IA publications, but we do need one or two really good ones.</p>
<p><i>16. To what extent do you think that the practice of IA can help solve the challenges of information overload?</i></p>
<p>Organizing information can move us towards calm computing, but like obesity, overload is largely a cultural problem. If we're going to stop people from wanting to drive with an iPhone in one hand and a Chocolate Cookie Crumble Frappuccino in the other, we must figure out what's driving us to distraction. So, yes, I think that's a job for the <a href="http://prezi.com/aafmvya6bk7t/understanding-information-architecture/">architects of understanding</a>.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/S1TwxVE5dvE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000659.phpUnderstanding Information Architecturetag:findability.org,2012://2.6582012-02-28T12:10:53Z2013-06-07T17:12:31ZI've said it before and I'll say it again: there has never been a better time to be an information architect. Demand for classic IA remains strong, while cross-channel and ubiquitous beg for attention. It's tremendously exciting but also overwhelming....Peter Morville
<p>I've said it <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/morville/status/56659461967843328">before</a> and I'll say it again: there has never been a better time to be an information architect. Demand for classic IA remains strong, while cross-channel and ubiquitous beg for attention. It's tremendously exciting but also overwhelming. That's why Jeff and I created <a href="http://prezi.com/aafmvya6bk7t/understanding-information-architecture/">Understanding IA</a>. </p>
<p><a href="http://prezi.com/aafmvya6bk7t/understanding-information-architecture/"><img src="http://findability.org/images/understandingia.jpg" width="510" height="376" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Understanding Information Architecture" /></a></p>
<p>We want to connect the dots between where IA comes from and where it's going. And, we hope to encourage folks to think differently about what we do. So, please <a href="http://prezi.com/aafmvya6bk7t/understanding-information-architecture/">take a look</a> and then let us know what you think. Thanks!</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p>Don't miss <a href="http://2012.iasummit.org/schedule/design_for_cross-channel_experiences.html">Design for Cross-Channel Experiences</a> at the IA Summit!</p>
<p>Or, perhaps we'll see you at <a href="http://iakonferenz.org/">IA Konferenz</a> or <a href="http://www.ux-lx.com/">UX Lisbon</a>.</p>
<p>Or, stay put, grab some popcorn, and watch the <a href="http://worldiaday.org/video">World IA Day videos</a>.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/vfsJ659wvlY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000658.phpInformation Architecture Storiestag:findability.org,2012://2.6572012-01-31T13:42:48Z2012-01-31T13:43:03ZA wonderful thing began to happen about a year after publication of the polar bear book. A complete stranger would approach me at a conference, introduce themselves, and then tell a story about how our book changed their life by...Peter Morville
<p>A wonderful thing began to happen about a year after publication of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-World-Wide-Web/dp/1565922824/">polar bear book</a>. A complete stranger would approach me at a conference, introduce themselves, and then tell a story about how our book changed their life by inspiring them to become an information architect.</p>
<p>Some of the stories were intensely personal. In one, a man told me about reading the polar bear book while watching over his mom on her deathbed. Some folks were thankful we'd given a name to what they'd been doing all along, while others were ecstatic that we'd opened their eyes to a whole new way of seeing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have heard these stories.</p>
<p>I don't hear them so much anymore, which is why I'm hoping folks will step up and share their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/iastories/">IA Stories</a>. We're leaving behind (and forgetting) an era. It's not just about the polar bear book or information architecture more broadly. It's about the exhilaration of being present for and participating in the birth of something new in the world. That doesn't happen every lifetime.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/morville/6795467691/in/pool-1876152@N23/"><img src="http://findability.org/images/altavista.png" width="500" height="152" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="AltaVista" /></a></p>
<p>To get things going, I'll share a few of my own, beginning with a short story about a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/morville/6795467691/in/pool-1876152@N23/">big query</a> that changed my life. I hope you'll join me. It's an opportunity to capture memories that are fading fast while simultaneously celebrating the first-ever <a href="http://worldiaday.org/">World IA Day</a>. So, what's your <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/iastories/">IA Story</a>?</p>
<h4>Strange Connections</h4>
<p><a href="http://2012.iasummit.org/schedule/design_for_cross-channel_experiences.html">Design for Cross-Channel Experiences</a> may sell out soon. Sign up now!</p>
<p>Don't miss <a href="http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/01-morville/">The System of Information Architecture</a> in <a href="http://journalofia.org/">The Journal of IA</a>.</p>
<p>Please join us on February 11 to celebrate <a href="http://worldiaday.org/locations/ann-arbor-mi-usa">World IA Day in Ann Arbor</a>!</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/yziUUMhB70s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000657.phpMulti-Channel Communicationtag:findability.org,2011://2.6562011-12-08T13:52:10Z2014-05-27T12:02:29ZThis year I collaborated with Q LTD to redesign The Kresge Foundation's website (here's the old one). We updated the information architecture and content to better reflect the foundation's priorities, while striving to improve usability, findability, credibility, and other facets...Peter Morville
<p>This year I collaborated with <a href="http://www.qltd.com/">Q LTD</a> to redesign The Kresge Foundation's <a href="http://kresge.org/">website</a> (here's the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20110719095615/http://www.kresge.org/">old</a> one). We updated the information architecture and content to better reflect the foundation's priorities, while striving to improve usability, findability, credibility, and other <a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000029.php">facets</a> of the user experience.</p>
<p>One of my favorite parts of the process was helping the organization to engage with social media in a safe, sensible manner. We provided the education, encouragement, and design needed to get the ball rolling. Along the way, I had to answer a couple of wildly divergent questions.</p>
<p>First, several folks asked: Why should we use social media at all when we already have a website? In response, along with explaining the potential of social media as tools for conversation and community, I told this story:</p>
<blockquote>Ten years ago, <a href="http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/bates/">Marcia Bates</a> gave a talk at the University of Michigan about information seeking. Her delivery was dry and the subject quite academic. I recall plotting to escape. But once I began to understand the thrust of her argument -- that while we focus attention on design for directed search, people absorb the vast majority of knowledge (80 percent) by simply <b>being aware</b> in their social context and physical environment -- I was hooked. This was a provocative message to deliver in what was still largely a library school. Of course, I didn't know what to do with this knowledge. How could I design for awareness? The answer arrived years later in the forms of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media that brought the water cooler to the Web.</blockquote>
<p>So, I continued, while it's comforting to believe our goals can be achieved by one or two channels, it's simply not true, which is why we must embrace a multi-channel communication strategy that accommodates the spectrum of behavior from active, directed search to passive, undirected awareness.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/morville/6476815351/"><img src="http://findability.org/images/marciabatesmodes.png" width="500" height="249" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Information Seeking Modes by Marcia Bates" /></a></p>
<p>This brings me to the second question (asked by an IT manager): since we have social media and <a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_webrip/all/1">The Web is Dead</a>, why do we need a website? I explained that reports of the Web's death had been greatly exaggerated, and that the site remains the centerpiece of the communication strategy, providing access to the full archive, and serving as a verifiable source of authority. After all, you can't believe everything you read on the Web!</p>
<p><img src="http://findability.org/images/socialmedia.png" width="500" height="341" class="largeFigure" style="display: block; border: none;" alt="Multi-Channel Communication Strategy" /></a></p>
<p>Later, I created this diagram (above) to illustrate the complex, dynamic relationships between an organization's website and its social media. As an <a href="http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000647.php">information architect</a>, I'm finding the diagram plus my Marcia Bates story to be helpful in explaining how and why the <b>structural design</b> should support multi-channel communication. It's an interesting time to be having these conversations, given the ongoing evolution of how we know what we know.</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/GKSebRSpgjU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000656.phpInformation Architecture Eventstag:findability.org,2011://2.6552011-12-06T17:41:37Z2013-06-07T17:14:45ZI'm looking forward to some great IA events next year. In February, there's the first ever World IA Day in 14 cities worldwide (including Ann Arbor). And in March in New Orleans, there's the thirteenth annual IA Summit with an...Peter Morville
<p>I'm looking forward to some great IA events next year. In February, there's the first ever <a href="http://worldiaday.org/">World IA Day</a> in 14 cities worldwide (including Ann Arbor). And in March in New Orleans, there's the thirteenth annual <a href="http://2012.iasummit.org/">IA Summit</a> with an impressive lineup of keynotes and workshops. Samantha Starmer and I will be leading a full-day workshop on <i>Design for Cross-Channel Experiences.</i></p>
<blockquote>The gap between physical and digital has blurred. We buy a Wii to get in shape. We read books and newspapers on Kindles. We unlock car doors with iPhones that double as GPS navigation devices. And, we order online for in-store pickup. Increasingly, people expect to be able to interact with products and services when and where and how they want -- and that's not always on your website.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The future of design is everywhere. Customer journeys encompass a growing array of physical and digital touchpoints. In response, user experience practitioners must design for holistic, integrated experiences that bridge multiple platforms, channels, and devices.</blockquote>
<blockquote>In this interactive <b>full-day workshop</b>, Peter Morville and Samantha Starmer will provide specific tools and recommendations for designing for the complete experience lifecycle across channels and touchpoints. You will leave the day ready to integrate cross-channel design techniques into your toolkit.</blockquote>
<p>We hope to see you at both events. Looks like a great start to 2012!</p>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/morville/~4/JKUqxpRmmDY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://findability.org/archives/000655.php